Question: Are baby rattles actually useful?
Answer: Rattles help newborn babies learn to focus on moving objects, a skill they find difficult early on. Additionally, they help young babies to develop motor skills such as picking up, holding on to, and releasing objects. Rattles can be used as a teaching aid. If you place the rattle slightly out of reach, you can teach your baby to roll, turn over and even move in a certain direction to grasp it. Most rattles make a noise that babies find comforting or entertaining, though bear in mind that not all babies like every kind of noise so be sure to find one that your baby finds soothing.
